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Patient and Experienced PhD Tutor in Bioengineering and STEM
Samuel D.

5 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Hourly Rate: $63
Response time: 41 minutes

About Samuel


Bio

Hi, I am Dr. Sam! I recently earned my Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Caltech, where I spent six years tackling challenging problems at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and engineering. I am here to help you master coursework so you can feel confident and capable no matter how complex the material seems.

I bring years of teaching and tutoring experience at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. I first began working professionally as a tutor while attending a large...

Hi, I am Dr. Sam! I recently earned my Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Caltech, where I spent six years tackling challenging problems at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and engineering. I am here to help you master coursework so you can feel confident and capable no matter how complex the material seems.

I bring years of teaching and tutoring experience at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. I first began working professionally as a tutor while attending a large competitive high school where I ultimately graduated as salutatorian. My tutee, a fellow student, was struggling with calculus until my guidance improved his grades and understanding.

My undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering (GPA 3.9 out of 4, magna cum laude) gives me a strong foundation in chemistry, biology, and math. As a college student, I regularly led study sessions, helping my fellow students to complete their homework assignments and fully understand the advanced concepts covered in lectures and textbooks.

I volunteered as a tutor for three years in graduate school, enabling high school students to succeed in math, computer science, and chemistry courses. I also served as the lead teaching assistant for an award-winning nanotechnology course for three years, helping students build their understanding step by step.

In addition to teaching, I am a lead editor for The Art of Molecular Programming, an open-access textbook that I am developing in collaboration with experts worldwide. This project, which focuses on the intersection of biochemistry, nanotechnology, and computer science, gives me unique insights into both the minds of your instructors and the authors of the textbooks you are reading.

As your tutor, I will guide you step by step, focusing on underlying meaning beyond simple memorization. Together, we will turn frustration into confidence and make learning an empowering experience!


Education

Northwestern University
Chemical Engineering
California Institute of Technology
PhD

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Approved Subjects

ACT English

ACT English

I received a 36 on the ACT. My public school education provided me with the grammar and writing skills needed to get perfect scores on this portion of the ACT. I am well-positioned to pass those skills onto tutees.
Biochemistry

Biochemistry

My PhD research focused on an application of biochemistry: using DNA to build biomolecular computers and nanotechnology. I have six years of experience modelling biochemical reactions for use in chemical circuits, designing nanostructures composed of biomolecules, and physically implementing these nanostructures and circuits. Additionally, my undergraduate coursework included the following relevant classes (I received an A in each of these): Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology, Protein Structure and Function, Synthetic Biology, and Cell Biology.
Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

As an undergraduate at Northwestern University, I majored in Chemical Engineering. My final GPA was 3.9 out of 4. Chemical engineering courses came naturally to me, so I often helped my fellow students with homework and studying.
Computer Gaming

Computer Gaming

I love playing computer games; I've been playing them since I was a kid. I also have basic experience with coding up my own games. As a kid, I used GameMaker to produce simple computer games. Later, I coded up some text-based adventures in TI Basic and MATLAB just to teach myself those coding languages.
Genetics

Genetics

My undergraduate research included splicing recombinant genes into bacteria to enable them to incorporate non-canonical amino acids. Additionally, I competed in the International Genetically Engineered Machines competition (iGEM) and won a silver medal. Furthermore, my undergraduate coursework included the following relevant classes (I received an A in each of these): Genetics & Molecular Biology, Synthetic Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, and Protein Structure and Function.
Microbiology

Microbiology

My undergraduate research included splicing recombinant genes into bacteria to enable them to incorporate non-canonical amino acids. Additionally, I competed in the International Genetically Engineered Machines competition (iGEM) and won a silver medal for microbial engineering research. Furthermore, my undergraduate coursework included the following relevant classes (I received an A in each of these): Cell Biology, Genetics & Molecular Biology, Synthetic Biology, Biochemistry, and Protein Structure and Function.
PSAT

PSAT

I received a sufficiently high score on the PSAT/NMSQT to become a National Merit Scholar semifinalist (and to ultimately complete the rest of the process to become a National Merit Scholar). My public school education provided me with the writing, literature analysis, and mathematical skills needed to achieve such a high score. I am well-positioned to pass those skills onto tutees.
Public Speaking

Public Speaking

In 2025, I was invited as a paid guest speaker at the annual Beckman Symposium in Irvine, CA, and the organizers told me that it was one of the best talks they'd ever seen on the careers panel. In 2023, I was selected to give a ten-minute talk discussing my research at the annual DNA conference held in Sendai, Japan, and received compliments for clearly explaining an unusually large amount of information in a short amount of time. Most recently, I travelled to LA City Hall to promote the adoption of STAR Voting, an alternative voting system with advantages over Ranked Choice Voting; while the committee had never heard of STAR Voting and seemed initially uninterested, I was able to engage the committee members and gain their full consideration.
ACT Science
Algebra 1
Algebra 2
Astronomy
Biology
Calculus
Chemistry
Differential Equations
Elementary Science
English
Geometry
Grammar
Linear Algebra
Microsoft Excel
Organic Chemistry
Physics
Physiology
Prealgebra
Precalculus
Psychology
SAT Math
SAT Reading
SAT Writing
Trigonometry
Writing
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Response time: 41 minutes

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Hourly Rate: $63
Response time: 41 minutes
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